Staphylococcal infection of open granulating wounds.

The significance of staphylococcal infection has been studied prospectively in 250 wounds healing by open granulation. In a series of 50 axillary skin excisions, 17 became infected with Staphylococcus aureus with consequent pain and delay in healing. The infections responded well to Fucidin ointment. Nasal carriers of the organism may be especially liable to this complication. In contrast, although S. aureus was not infrequently found in deep granulating wounds, there was no clear evidence of harm resulting in the 50 laparotomy wounds and 150 pilonidal sinus excisions studied. The susceptibility of superficial wounds to the infection is ascribed to friction from dressings. Deep granulating wounds are occasionally affected similarly when the cavity has filled.